Final F1 In-Season Test

Tuesday and Wednesday of this week saw the second and final of 2017’s two in-season tests takes place at the Hungaroring.

02/08/17

Tuesday 1st August: Day 1

Current F2 Championship leader, Charles Leclerc got his hands on the 2017 Ferrari and settled in well taking to the top of the time-sheets. Leclerc set the quickest time of the day just before the chequered flag fell of a 1:17:746. McLaren’s Stoffel Vandoorne was a close 2nd only less than a tenth behind Leclerc. Although completing 71 laps, the Belgian’s McLaren broke down just before the lunch break.

Picture courtesy of Sky Sports F1

The Mercedes cars of George Russell and Valterri Bottas both were on track conducting 2018 tyre testing for Pirelli. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen didn’t have a trouble-free day being hit by engine trouble and restricted to just 51 laps. Other young drivers testing today included, Nicholas Latifi for Renault, Santino Ferrucci for Haas and Gustav Malja for Sauber.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 1:17:746, 98 laps

Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren, 1:17:834, 71 laps

Valterri Bottas, Mercedes, 1:18:732, 155 laps

George Russell, Mercedes, 1:19:231, 119 laps

Lance Stroll, Williams, 1:19:866, 137 laps

Wednesday 2nd August: Day 2

Championship leader, Sebastian Vettel put his Ferrari at the top of the time-sheets, marking a successful test for the Scuderia. Vettel’s 1:17:124 was nearly 3 tenths quicker than the impressive McLaren debutant Lando Norris. Ferrari split their sessions with Vettel in the morning session and then Kimi Raikkonen, who finished 3rd quickest, in the afternoon session.

Picture Courtesy of Sky Sports F1

Finishing 4th and an impressive tally of 142, the popular Robert Kubica returned to drive the Renault RS17. It was the first time that the Pole had tested the 2017 car after his private test with Renault in the 2012 version in Valencia earlier in June. Toro Rosso also split their strategy with both Carlos Sainz and Daniil Kvyat running the STR12 at various points in the day. Other young drivers testing today included, Pierre Gasly for Red Bull, Luca Ghiotto for Williams and Nobuharu Matsushita for Sauber.